Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Summary

THE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN EXTENDED. IF YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY APPLIED, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY BUT YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR APPLICATION. These positions are located within the Fire Department in the Fire Service at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System in Castle Point and Montrose, NY. The Firefighter (Basic Life Support) works to control and extinguish fires, rescue persons endangered by fire, and reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** These positions involve a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-07. At the GS-06 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-07. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. NOTE: At the GS-6 grade level, the title of the position is Firefighter and at the GS-7 grade level, the title of the position is Firefighter (Basic Life Support). The major duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a structural firefighter controlling and extinguishing fires, operating hose lines, making forced entries, ventilating structures, performing or assisting in rescue operations; Performs basic life support duties; Serves as the driver operator of motorized firefighting and rescue vehicles as needed; Combats fires in residences, medical and psychological facilities, multiple story office buildings, industrial shops, warehouses, fuel storage areas, public assembly areas, and brush and wooded areas; Serves as part of an initial response team that mitigates the presence of potential release of hazardous materials; Responds to non-fire related calls and provides appropriate actions to include but not limited to: persons stuck in elevators, motor vehicle accidents, behavioral emergencies (BERT), missing patient grounds searches, patient return assists, confined space rescue, emergency maintenance calls, flooding, etc.; Participates in all fire department training, medical center fire drills, building fire safety inspections, fire alarm, sprinkler system and water supply system inspection and testing; and, Performs all other duties as assigned. There are two (2) locations for the two (2) Firefighter (Basic Life Support) vacancies. Applicants will have the opportunity to select one or both locations when completing the Assessment Questionnaire. Castle Point, New York Montrose, New York Work Schedule: 48 hours on and 72hrs off Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-6 grade level, you must meet the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter. Such duties may include (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer or governmental fire department, or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. These assignments would have been performed of a more limited scope and with less independence than the full performance level, and be performed under supervision, consulting with the supervisor when problems are encountered. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must meet the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter (Basic Life Support). Such duties may include (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer or governmental fire department, or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. At this level, assignments would have been performed independently, with little or no supervision, only consulting with the supervisor when unusual problems are encountered. ~AND~ In addition to the above requirements, you must also meet all of the following requirements to qualify for this position: English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ Maximum Age Requirement (Screen Out): This position requires a maximum entry age for an initial appointment; applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the date of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit, but who have previously served as a federal employee in a covered position, may be eligible to re-enter the fire service provided that they: (1) meet all applicable qualifications for the position and (2) will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time the firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicant's age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age. ~AND~ Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operation - Driver's License (Screen Out): Applicants must possess and maintain a current and valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind (must be possess at application). Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test in the Class A Triple Combination Pumper and be capable of operating all firefighting equipment including that on board the fire truck. Applicants also may be required to provide information on their driving record. Applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate specific equipment to which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment. NOTE: We canno…

Education

There is no educational substitution at these grade levels.